Zinnia, Exquisite

Short Description

A full season of non-stop blooms.

Full Description

HEIRLOOM. A true magician that lives up to its name, this beauty offers a full season of color. Large, 4-5" blooms burst open a bright red, and as new ones appear every day, the older ones change to a rosy-red then a softer still rose. Each truly "exquisite", they will offer you an armful of cut flowers all season long.

Type
Some flowers and vegetables fall into subcategories that may define how they grow (such as pole or bush), what they are used for (such as slicing tomatoes or shelling peas), flower type, or other designations that will help you select the type of a class of plant that you are looking for.

Dahlia-flowering

Sun
The amount of sunlight this product needs daily in order to perform well in the garden. Full sun means 6 hours of direct sun per day; partial sun means 2-4 hours of direct sun per day; shade means little or no direct sun.

Full Sun

Height
The typical height of this product at maturity.

36 inches

Spread
The width of the plant at maturity.

8-10 inches

Ornamental Use
Ways in which the product may be used in the garden for ornamental effect.

Beds, Container, Cut Flowers

Life Cycle
This refers to whether a plant is an annual, biennial or perennial. Annuals complete their life cycles in one year; biennials produce foliage the first year and bloom and go to seed the second year; perennials can live for more than two years.

As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours.

Thin to one seedling per cell when they have two sets of leaves.

Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturer’s directions.

Transplant hardened-off seedlings to the garden after the frost.

Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be “hardened off”. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding.

Sowing Directly in the Garden:

Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun after all danger of frost.

Prepare the soil by removing weeds and working organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil; then level and smooth.

Most plants respond well to soils amended with organic matter. Compost is a wonderful form of organic matter with a good balance of nutrients and an ideal pH level, it can be added to your planting area at any time. If compost is not available, top dress the soil after planting with 1-2 inches of organic mulch, which will begin to breakdown into compost. After the growing season, a soil test will indicate what soil amendments are needed for the following season.

Sow seeds evenly 12 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil.

Firm soil lightly with your hand, water and keep evenly moist.

Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days.

Thin seedlings to stand 8-24 inches apart, depending on the variety, when they are about 1-2 inches tall.

Planting in the Garden:

Select a location in full sun with good rich moist organic soil.

Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 8 inches. Level with a rake to remove clumps of grass and stones.

Most plants respond well to soils amended with organic matter. Compost is a wonderful form of organic matter with a good balance of nutrients and an ideal pH level, it can be added to your planting area at any time. If compost is not available, top dress the soil after planting with 1-2 inches of organic mulch, which will begin to breakdown into compost. After the growing season, a soil test will indicate what soil amendments are needed for the following season.

Dig a hole for each plant large enough to amply accommodate the root ball.

Place the top of the root ball even with the level of the surrounding soil. Fill with soil to the top of the root ball. Press soil down firmly with your hand leaving a slight depression around the plant to hold water.

Water thoroughly, so that a puddle forms in the saucer you have created. This settles the plants in, drives out air pockets and results in good root-to-soil contact.

Use the plant tag as a location marker.

Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.

Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For annuals an organic mulch of shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant’s stems to prevent possible rot.

Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.

Until plants become established, some protection from extreme winds and direct, hot sunlight may be necessary. Good air movement is also important.

After new growth appears, a light fertilizer may be applied. Keep granular fertilizers away from the plant crown and foliage to avoid burn injury. Use low rates of a slow release fertilizer, as higher rates may encourage root rots.

Pinch young plants to encourage branching unless you are growing them exclusively for cut flowers and want long stems.

Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.

Remove plants after they are killed by frost in fall to avoid disease issues the following year.

Plant zinnias in mixed plantings with other summer-blooming annuals, or place small groups of zinnias among perennials. They are at home in cottage and children’s gardens, and they are often grown in cutting gardens.

Shorter zinnia varieties are ideal for containers. Take care not to overcrowd them or the flowers may be significantly smaller than they should be and the plants may be taller. Always use a commercial potting mix, do not use garden soil, and make sure the containers have adequate drainage. Container grown plants will require extra water and fertilizer, look for signs of wilt or a nutrient deficiency.

Cut stems before the flower is open for cut flowers.

Zinnias attract hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects.

Product Details

Type

Dahlia-flowering

Sun

Full Sun

Height

36 inches

Spread

8-10 inches

Ornamental Use

Beds, Container, Cut Flowers

Life Cycle

Annual

Sow Method

Direct Sow/Indoor Sow

Bloom Duration

10 weeks

Flower color

Pink, Red

Reviews

Zinnia, Exquisite is rated
3.8 out of
5 by
12.

Rated 1 out of
5 by
lsc23 from
Very disappointedThe zinnias are only 6 inches tall with blooms the size of a quarter. Definitely not what I expected.

Date published: 2017-07-15

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Joyboy from
They are beautiful!!,glad to have themAll my neighbors and friends , 'Say they are pretty, I love your lovely Zinnia's

Date published: 2016-09-16

Rated 1 out of
5 by
Judy B from
Exquisite ZinniaI had grown exquisite several years ago and loved it .I convinced my garden club to grow it in our green house for our annual plant sale. In my garden , I have the results . Totally different from my past experience and the pic on the packet!!
The flowers maybe 2/12 in , boring pink with large center. Disappointed and somewhat embarrassed as. I really pushed to plant an buy.

Date published: 2016-07-19

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Rose In Huntsville from
Love This Zinnia!On a lark, I bought 2 packets of these at our locally owned garden center (not a big box store). We have a very long growing season, and I had done a bit of research on late sown zinnia seeds. I planted these around August 22, 2015. I got great germination rates and actually had to thin the babies out. I did try to save the babies in pots, but they gave in to some sort of wilt. As of today, October 16, 2015, they are about 12" tall and blooming! We have had unusually hot and dry weather, and I have been mindful of not over watering them. When they were about 2-3" tall, I mulched around them with sheets of wet newspaper and put shredded cedar mulch over that. Prior to that, they would wilt in the afternoon heat, but would recover once it cooled off. They are very pretty. When the buds are just opening, they are a dark, hot pink color. As they open, they change to a lighter pink. After the autumn equinox, they no longer get as much sun in the afternoon. However, they are still quite lovely and appear to be flourishing. I would definitely plant these again, and much earlier!

Date published: 2015-10-17

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Chaz from
Amazing!This was my first attempt at growing any plants from seeds so I was a little nervous but these Zinnia's were beautiful. They were tall with strong stalks, I only had pink flowers but they were beautiful. I even started them later in the season than I should have (newbie mistake) but I still had lots of tall flowers that lasted until we had several below freezing mornings!
I will definitely grow these again they were a head turner on my block!

Date published: 2014-11-20

Rated 5 out of
5 by
jackie2830 from
Great ZinniasLove them, & they are like the packet.....pink! Beautiful shades of pink....no red or rosy pink however, unlike your online description. I'm happy, since I ONLY wanted pinks in that area, and picked these locally because the packet shows ONLY PINKS. If you want reds, try "Big Red" which I also planted in another garden........they may be even more beautiful. Will order more of both next spring! Will enter photos of both next year......too late in the season for now......they're winding down.

Date published: 2012-08-15

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Sliver from
The most 'Exquisite' zinnia I have ever grown.I have grown nearly every zinnia I have found the seeds for. These are a nuanced flower when it comes to color, going from the pretty, bright color you see in the photo, to progressively lighter shades of pink. I always pick them at their brightest, and they last a while in the vase. You get plenty of flowers per plant, and they have thrived in the Texas heat when everything else was wilting and begging for mercy or water in our frequent drought conditions. This is THE plant for difficult, hot climates. Water them occasionally, NEVER fertilize them, and be rewarded with their beauty and ease. I have even bought the seeds for these flowers just to send to my landscaping major (in college) sister. She, too, was impressed with their beauty. Try mixing them with the 'White Wedding' zinnia. That would make a lovely bouquet.
I have provided a picture of some of my flowers; I hope Burpee shares it with you. The Zinnia 'Exquisite' is the one in the furthest left side of the picture. Isn't it lovely?

Date published: 2012-02-24

Rated 1 out of
5 by
redzinnia from
DisappointingThe colorful flowers on the package are enticing, but my seeds produced only pink flowers-no "rosy red" aging to a soft pink. Very disappointed. Won't buy again.